Tuesday 15 September 2015

What is the best approach to learn Java ??

Step 1: Make Up Your Mind – Ignore the Critics
Not every person loves Java programming and hence, they will try their level best to deter you from learning the language. It is true that the world of programming is flooded with different competing languages and it is not really possible to pick the one which is the best. A language which works perfectly for you might not serve the same purpose for someone else.
Step 2: Install Java and Eclipse IDE
Although, it is very much possible to learn Java simply by installing the Java SDK but the learning curve in this case is bound to be real slow. When Java SDK is combined with an IDE, it provides for an integrated development environment which will take care of all your needs and will help you learn quickly and more effectively. And among the different IDEs, Eclipse is undoubtedly the best and can be downloaded for free.
Step 3: Learn Java Fundamentals
The most logical way in which you can start learning Java is to start with the fundamental concepts. In order to learn the basics of this programming language, you can make use of a free tutorial or can simply download a good e-book. The whole idea is to understand what core Java is all about before moving on to the advanced levels.
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Step 4: Read Some Good Books from Experts
Although, the online e-books as well as tutorials will help you learn Java in a very effective manner, looking at the language from the point of view of an expert will help you a great deal. For this, start reading books which have been penned down by expert Java programmers and professionals. .
Step 5: Start Creating a Simple Application Using Your Knowledge
Learning only the theoretical concepts of Java will not help you become a programming expert. For this, you will be required to put the theory into practice as well. So, make use of the knowledge acquired by you and start creating a simple application. You can go for some simple coding exercises which will keep your motivation levels high.
Step 6: Go Next Level – Simple is not Enough
Once you are through with basic Java coding exercises and have gained a comfort level in the usage of this language, you can move on to the next level and start creating programs and applications which require more complex and advanced levels of programming. By doing this, you will get a good exposure of the real life complexity that a programmer faces. At this level, I would recommend some exercises like below
Step 7: Learn Servlets and JSP
A web application is basically a dynamic extension of the application server or web. The introduction of Java EE 6 has resulted in a lot of improvement over the previous versions, in terms of adding good standard APIs like servlets and JSP. Learning these additional APIs will help you venture into new things and integrate your Java programming with additional frameworks and tools. Once you understand servlets and JSPs thoroughly, I would recommend some exercises like below
• Build a application to capture user details in a form, save the form detail in MySQL database using JDBC.
• Build a simple web based Tic Tac Toe game that two players can play.
• Add authentication to the above game with allowing only users with username/password.
Step 8: Learn JSF
JSF or JavaServer Faces is basically a web framework which helps in the simplification of user interfaces when it comes to Java web applications. This is done through the assembly of reusable components within a page. Additionally, it comes with many popular functions like manipulating and accessing components through tag libraries, automatic saving of form data along with its re-population on getting displayed at the client side. Once you understand JSF thoroughly, I would recommend some exercises like below
• Build a simple web based chatting application
• Build a simple shopping cart application
Step 9: Build an Awesome Web Application
These may be of two different types, namely, presentation oriented or service oriented. Depending upon what you want, create an awesome web application by making use of web components you have learned so far. At this point, I would also recommend you to start looking into some of good JSF frameworks like below, each of them may be a good fit for different needs.
• richfaces
• PrimeFaces
• IceFaces
Step 10: Continue Learning and keep up with the Latest Trends
Finally, if you are a programmer, you cannot really get away with learning. This is because there is absolutely no place for obsolete professional skills in the world of programming. Hence, it is very important for a Java programmer to keep up with the latest trends in order to gain a competitive edge over others.

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